Background
Colorado is currently experiencing an unprecedented energy development boom across the state. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is the governmental body that oversees much of the development in the state.  Presently there are over 30,000 active oil and gas wells in Colorado and at the current rate of development the number of wells will double to over 60,000 in just six years.

Reform is Overdue
Recently introduced House Bill (HB) 1341 sponsored by Representatives Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) and Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne) would reform the COGCC.  HB 1341 would bring balance to the COGCC as well as changing its mission to reflect the task of managing development during a record energy boom.  The current mission to “promote” oil and gas development and use is modified to include stewardship of the resource and developing oil and gas in a way that does not harm public health or the environment. 

HB 1341 also would change the makeup of the Commission to increase representation from areas most impacted by development, and include commissioners with backgrounds in public health, environmental protection, reclamation, and wildlife.  Currently a majority of commission members have extensive background in the energy industry and very few have experience in the public health, wildlife or environmental field. For a list of current commissioners and their biographies’ visit: www.oil-gas.state.co.us

Key Details of HB 1341:

• Revises the mission of the COGCC to include more focus on “responsible and balanced development”  and adds specific language to regarding “protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources”
• Provides that recovering every last drop of oil or every last cubic foot of gas does not come at the expense of public health, wildlife and other important concerns.  Under current law, COGCC has a mandatory duty to prevent “waste,” which is defined as maximizing recovery of oil and gas. 
• The bill would expand the COGCC to nine members (from the current seven) and would add representatives with expertise in the following areas:
• Environmental or wildlife protections (1)
• Local government (1)
• Agriculture/royalty owner (1)
• Soil conservation or reclamation (1)
• Director of CDNR and CDPHE (1 each)
• Industry expertise (3)
• The bill would also require that the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and the Director of the Department Public Health and Environment sit on the Commission.

Over the last 30 years the economy of Colorado has diversified greatly. Our state now relies upon outdoor recreation, hunting, fishing and retirement income as a substantial portion of our economy. At the same time, more and more Coloradans are settling in areas affected by oil and gas development.  Drilling tens of thousands of new wells across Colorado over the next few decades without attempting to balance the needs of the energy industry with the needs of our communities, as HB 1341 would, will result in irreversible, unnecessary and extensive damage to our sustainable economic resources, and our traditions and lifestyles.

This bill would not prohibit energy development, but simply attempts to balance the COGCC and make sure that energy development does not occur at the expense of public health, safety and welfare of our communities – or Colorado’s clean air, clean water and healthy wildlife populations.